Mercedes C-Class Special Edition: Wow!

I’m not usually a fan of special edition models for the simple reason is that I don’t usually find that the extra packaging deserves the higher price.  Also, I have seen special edition models which detract from the current trim selection line, incorporating questionable paint schemes or interior badging.

But, the Mercedes C-Class Special Edition is one vehicle I really like, a beautified variation on the compact executive car theme.

Special Edition With A Classical Look

Mercedes distributed pictures of the C-Class SE last week, but I don’t have pricing for the new model. I’m sure that it’ll retail for well above the base $32,900 price found with the standard model as the SE offers a number of features that are only available for this edition.

The first thing I noticed with the special edition is the headlamps. The lamps are darker and are surrounded by a darker frame, giving the SE a distinctly rich look. But, I also noticed the new idium paint scheme, offering several variations on the grey theme. This particular paint scheme appears to be coffee colored.

17" alloy five-spoke wheels are standard, but if you prefer 16" seven-spoke wheels, you can opt for those instead.

Clean swept lines, brushed aluminum and a well designed center stack are hallmarks of every Mercedes passenger vehicle including the C-Class Special Edition model.

Optional leather seating in the form of two-tone variants featuring black/sahara beige or black/cognac brown color combos gives the Special Edition an elegant look. Leather touches on the transmission shifter and steering wheel along with brush aluminum trim and magnified instrument cluster completes the design enhancements found therein.

C-Class Changes Aren’t Just Skin Deep

Among the other features of the Special Edition is an interior illumination package, adaptive headlamps for improved lighting performance, park assist, improved braking and more. So, besides the trim level changes, the C-Class Special Edition offers substantive technological improvements, providing the right blend of interior, exterior and safety enhancements that should appeal to Mercedes fans.

Source: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

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Chevrolet Awaits While GM Restructures

By far the largest brand owned by General Motors, Chevrolet stands to gain the most as parent GM restructures. At the same time, Chevrolet stands to lose the most if GM cannot pull everything off as planned.

Selling More Chevrolets Than All The Rest

As of June 1st, Chevrolet sells more passenger vehicles in the US than all other GM brands combined, racking up as much as 60% of the sales  in any given month. Chevrolet has a smaller share of company sales in some of the company’s other important markets, but overall the Chevy brand is the most significant make in the GM portfolio.

While GM restructures, Chevrolet will have to wait things out with its current model line set for the coming months. Earlier this year, an all new Traverse crossover was added to the line up and the iconic Camaro made its return. Hybrid versions of its popular Silverado pickup truck are new to the line, but it may not be until late next Spring before a new Chevy model hits.

Production Count Down: Tens Months To Go

Production for the Chevrolet Cruze is set to begin in April 2010 at the company’s Lordstown, Ohio manufacturing plant. Should the company’s bankruptcy restructuring drag out it could have an impact on when the Cruze hits the market.  As of this writing, a late May 2010 release is expected for the 2011 Cruze.

Sharing the same platform as the Cruze will be the Chevy Volt, the long awaited electric model that GM has been promising everyone for the past eighteen months. That car won’t go into production before November 2010, meaning it won’t be in showrooms much before Christmas 2010. Clearly, if there are problems with GM’s restructuring, than both the high volume Cruze and the low volume Volt may not show up on time.

Buick And Cadillac Get New Models

We’ll know more over the coming weeks what GM’s position will be as company and whether they’ll still be able to roll out new products as scheduled. The all new 2010 Buick LaCrosse will be showing up in showrooms later this month while both the Cadillac CTS wagon and next generation SRX crossover will arrive by summer’s end.  Thus, there seems to be some sort of consistency being maintained by GM as it restructures, which is good news for Chevy fans who are awaiting both the Cruze and the Volt.

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